Mel Gibson distanced himself from Heath Ledger after Brokeback Mountain

Mel Gibson has called Heath Ledger's death this week a "tragic loss." But in recent years, Gibson had distanced himself from the risk-taking actor, it's been claimed.

Gibson turned cold toward Ledger after the Aussie star ignored his advice not to play a gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain," according to private investigator Paul Barresi.

Ledger and Gibson had grown close while filming "The Patriot," in which Ledger played Gibson's son.

"Ledger asked Gibson whether he should take the role of Ennis Del Mar in 'Brokeback,'" Barresi says a "major Hollywood producer" told him. "Gibson strongly counseled against it. The role apparently ran counter to Gibson's morality. And he felt that it would ruin Heath's career."

"When Gibson parted ways with Heath, it broke his heart," contends Barresi.

Of course, the role ended up winning Ledger critical cheers and an Oscar nomination. Speaking with London's Evening Standard in 2006, he said he took it because "it was kind of a reaction against the comparison that I'm the new Mel Gibson."

Gibson was accused of gay-bashing because of a scene in "Braveheart," in which a homosexual character is thrown out of a window. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) branded Gibson as homophobic after a December 1991 interview in which he told Spanish newspaper El País: "[Gays] take it up the a-." Gesturing toward his posterior, he added, "This is only for taking a s-."

When the interviewer recalled that Gibson had expressed fear that people would think he is gay because he's an actor, Gibson answered, "Do I sound like a homosexual? Do I talk like them? Do I move like them? I think not."

Asked about GLAAD's criticism, he told Playboy: "I'll apologize when hell freezes over. They can f- off."

Later, though, Gibson joined GLAAD in hosting lesbian and gay filmmakers for a seminar.

Gibson's rep called the story "a complete crock of s-." Ledger's rep had no comment by deadline. Gibson also said of Ledger this week: "I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off."

[source]